We've become accustomed to Wi-Fi access everywhere for our mobile devices. Without it, our phones are not as useful. As a general rule, places that offer free Wi-Fi should work your devices seamlessly, but those that offer Wi-Fi for a fee can be problematic to use.
Q. I like to find recipes online. I usually print them out on paper, but I wish there was a better way to save my favorites.
A. A good recipe app has to do several jobs. The first is the hardest, importing the ingredients and instructions in a meaningful way. Next, the recipes need to be organized. Lastly, they need to help plan a shopping list.
I have used a number of these apps over the years. Right now my favorite is ReciMe (recime.app), available on both iOS App Store and Google Play.
ReciMe is not the least expensive option, but if your primary goal is to save online recipes, I believe it does a better job than the others I've used.
It takes a little practice to learn how to import an online recipe, but once you get going it only takes a few seconds to import one from Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and more. If you have printouts already, or handwritten recipes, use your phone's camera to take a photo of each one to import it.
I have tried to save over a hundred recipes, and only a couple didn't import correctly. Those can be reported to the developer as bugs.
The imported recipe will include the source URL, so you can always return to the original page online.
If your goal is to collect recipes, ReciMe is a useful app.
Q. Why is it so difficult to access reliable Wi-Fi on a cruise ship or in a hotel?
A. We have become accustomed to having speedy Internet service everywhere.
When the Internet is not available, these powerful computers in our pockets stop working.
As a general rule, places that offer free Wi-Fi should work with your device seamlessly, perhaps requiring a password or email address.
Locations that offer Internet for a fee is a travel minefield. As a result, some hotels, airliners, and most cruise ships require patience (and sometimes luck) to connect.
Most of the time there is a checklist of the steps needed, but what happens when you perform every step perfectly and it still does not work?
Modern devices have a number of do-not-track features that promotes user privacy, but those features often interfere with fee-based Internet hot-spots.
The only option is to start disabling features such as "Limit IP Address Tracking" and "Private IP Address." Apple's iCloud Private Relay may also cause issues, but it's pretty good at shutting itself off in situations where it's not supported.
The next time you encounter trouble using a fee-based Internet Wi-Fi hotspot, try turning off any tracking-related settings.
Q. My phone's battery no longer lasts an entire day. How can I squeeze a bit more life from this device?
A. Most of the battery power in our portable devices is consumed by the screen. As a result, you can stretch battery life by turning down the screen brightness.
Another straightforward option is to consistently place the phone face down on a table when not in use. The phone's sensors will keep the screen off until it is picked up.
Still another option is an accessory battery pack such as those made by Mophie or Anker. Add on batteries are usually built into phone cases, but they also have models that attach to the back of the phone with magnets. An external battery will add some charging steps, but a good one will extend a phone's life by a year or more.
The last option is to consider replacing the internal battery. New batteries installed by a technician are usually a bit less expensive than an external battery pack.
A good replacement can add years to a device, at the risk of the phone becoming damaged when it's disassembled. Some devices are easier to update than others. If your phone has a reputation for easy repair, internal battery replacement may be the best option.
Wander the Web
Here are my picks for worthwhile browsing
this month:
Modern Foodie Blog
Tastingtable is a food site that caters to enthusiasts. If you want a good place to start, check out "47 Types Of Pasta..." (tastingtable.com/1863917/types-of-pasta-when-to-use/)
tastingtable.com
Bacon Method
This page explains how to cook bacon "with the minimum amount of preparation and cleanup."
The Curious Dreamer
Use this search engine to decode the meaning of your dreams or learn about dreaming in general
